What A Social Security Deal Could Look Like (Beware of Reform Lite)

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_22/b3935097_mz057.htm

For months, the Social Security debate has been stuck in an endless round of recriminations between President George W. Bush and Capitol Hill Democrats. But with House and Senate committees ready to start drafting a Social Security overhaul in June, partisan whining is likely to wind down. And while it is too early to know whether Bush and Congress will reach a deal, the framework for an agreement is -- surprisingly -- beginning to take shape.

Any compromise would fall far short of Bush's goal of fundamentally overhauling Social Security. It would make big changes to the program yet retain a basic government-provided benefit for all Americans. It would secure the system's financial solvency for many years by cutting promised benefits and raising payroll taxes on high-income workers. But it would not ensure permanent financial stability, as the President has demanded. An agreement would also include some form of personal accounts, just not the White House version. And new savings incentives -- sometimes called add-on accounts -- would be created outside the current Social Security system. "I can see an agreement along those lines," says Heritage Foundation research fellow David C. John, "assuming both sides come off their absolute positions."

Such a deal would leave both factions with something to brag about. Bush could say he engineered an historic agreement to fix the program -- and Republicans could get the issue of Social Security off their backs. Democrats could say they saved the system from GOP attack. And everyone could take credit for new savings vehicles, which would be included in a Social Security package being cobbled together by House Ways & Means Committee Chairman William Thomas (R-Calif.).

That's why insiders see a quiet consensus developing around Reform Lite. Republicans seem increasingly willing to abandon Bush-style accounts and their opposition to any tax increases. And Democrats have privately expressed a willingness to accept benefit cuts and hand Bush half a victory rather than be seen as blocking needed changes. "We are getting within striking distance of really constructive proposals," says a leading Democratic Social Security strategist.

for all those making more than $100,000. No problem.

work to preserve the middle class benefits, not cut little nicey-nice deals with the Republicans. He thinks it could shape up to be a windfall for the rich....of course.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_05_22.php#005736

His comments make me think that the Dems will make a deal to look cooperative and meanwhile, sell out the middle class. If they do, they are damned stupid and not worth our votes. They just don't seem to get it. They keep wanting to please the very people that a lot of Americans seem to be running from......

lower income and middle class. They want to sell out the middle class, they are history.

The dems need to call for the repeal of the * tax cuts for those making over $200K per year, use the $ to pay the frigging treasury notes securing the debt owed SS, and take a blood oath keep their paws off it.

If they can't muster the courage to do this, they should just stand firm and keep their traps shut.

different about this?